Skip to main content

The AirTV will bring over-the-air channels to Sling TV starting in September

sling tv 18 hour free preview for new customers dish app
Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Earlier this year, we caught wind of a new piece of hardware coming from Sling TV by the name of the AirTV. The box — which would add over-the-air (OTA) local channels to Sling TV — seemed to be headed for a spring release, but that never happened. Now, the box has surfaced again. It was spotted by Dave Zatz of Zatz Not Funny, who first reported on the AirTV, and this time, it’s got a price and tentative release date.

“With AirTV and an HD antenna, you can stream live local programming, news, and your local sports anywhere in your home using the free Sling TV app and its integrated program guide. No paid contracts — just free local TV on any compatible device. And if you want more channels, you can subscribe to paid Sling TV packages — all from the same app,” a draft Amazon listing reads.

The listing mentions that the box is compatible with antennas from Mohu, RCA, and others. Sling TV functionality isn’t included in the box, so you’ll need the Sling TV app for iOS, Android, or compatible players like the Roku and Amazon Fire TV. Though Sling TV is now available on the Apple TV, that particular hardware isn’t explicitly mentioned as being compatible.

AirTV B&H Photo Video listing
Image used with permission by copyright holder

A pulled B&H Photo listing has even more interesting information: The AirTV could be coming relatively soon. The expected availability is listed as September 17, putting the release roughly one month away. Potential buyers might be put off by the $150 price tag, which makes it more expensive than the streaming boxes they use to watch Sling TV.

Zatz’s sources say the AirTV uses reworked Slingbox M1 and M2 hardware to handle the OTA reception, meaning this is likely a relatively cheap experiment for Echostar and Dish Network, the two companies behind the box. Whether the AirTV will be successful remains to be seen, but this isn’t the only product offering similar functionality. Earlier this week, LG officially unveiled its new Channel Plus feature, which puts certain streaming services alongside OTA channels on its webOS 3.0-powered smart TVs.

Editors' Recommendations

Kris Wouk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
Crazy! This 75-inch 4K TV is under $450 at Walmart right now
The onn. 75” Class 4K UHD (2160P) LED Frameless Roku Smart TV is a living room with orange walls.

Walmart continues its reign of great TV deals with the option to buy an Onn. 75-inch Frameless 4K TV for just $448. A 75-inch TV for under $500 is pretty impressive and this TV usually costs $498 so you’re saving even more than usual. If you want a great new TV to add to your home for less, this is the perfect opportunity to do so while saving plenty of cash. Let’s take a look at what it has to offer.

Why you should buy the Onn. 75-inch Frameless 4K TV
Onn. is nowhere to be seen in our look at the best TV brands but it’s still pretty respectable for anyone seeking a budget-priced TV. The most obvious benefit here is the hefty 75-inch 4K screen with 2160p resolution. It looks great with a crystal clear picture which is an excellent upgrade compared to an HD screen. The Onn. 75-inch Frameless 4K TV might lack the finer features of the best TVs but it has the essentials arranged well.

Read more
Tubi teams with DAZN for sports as free TV service continues its takeover
The Tubi app icon on Apple TV.

Not that Tubi was exactly lacking for anything to watch, but the free (as in ad-supported) streaming service just added a couple more reasons to keep you glued to your couch. The Fox-owned FAST service (that's short for free ad-supported television) today announced a partnership with DAZN that brings a bevy of sports to platform.

The tentpole addition is DAZN Women's Football. It'll be available 24 hours a day, with "a compelling mix of live and classic soccer matches from prestigious tournaments." Those will include the UEFA Women's Champions League, Liga F, and the Saudi Women's Premier League, among others. It'll be available in the U.S. and Canada.

Read more
Hisense’s PX3-Pro Laser Cinema gets AI, a bigger picture, and better sound
The Hisense PX3-Pro Laser Cinema.

Hisense's PX2-Pro Laser Cinema ultra short throw projector made all kinds of best projector lists for its excellent picture, big brightness, and accurate color. Today, the Chinese electronics maker announced the popular projector's latest model, the PX3-Pro, a $3,500, premium triple-laser projector that improves on its predecessors with better sound, a brighter light source, and AI smarts to further enhance its image.

The PX3-Pro sees some improvements over the PX2. For one, it's brighter than the PX2's 2,400 ANSI lumens at 3,000 ANSI lumens, which should mean a significant boost, especially in brighter rooms. But one key improvement with the PX3 that Hisense is certainly hoping will make an impact is its integration of "real-time Pro AI Algorithms" that Hisense says will "enhance brightness, fine-tune contrast, and eliminate noise." Using AI to enhance picture quality, color, and more, has been showing up in all the best TVs over the last year or so, so it's no surprise to see it start making its way into the best projectors now, too.

Read more